A Liberal Democrat MP has been condemned by his party for accusing "the
Jews" of inflicting atrocities on Palestinians and linking this to the
Holocaust.

David Ward, MP for Bradford East, has been disciplined by his party after making the remarks on his website - coinciding with events to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

Mr Ward was challenged on Sky News over whether his comments were targeted at "all Jews" or just the Israeli state.

"I'm accusing the Jews who did it, so if you’re a Jew and you did not do it, then I’m not accusing you. I’m saying that those Jews who did that and continue to do it have not learned those lessons. If you are a Jew and do not do those things... then I am not criticising you.”

Questioned over the timing of his remarks, he said: "What lessons have been learned? That's the point that I am making. What better day to raise the issue of learning?"

On his website page, which has since been removed, Mr Ward said he had "signed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, in doing so pledging his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day" and describes Auschwitz as "the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the site of the largest mass murder in history".

But he added: "Having visited Auschwitz twice - once with my family and once with local schools - I am saddened that the Jews, who suffered unbelievable levels of persecution during the Holocaust, could within a few years of liberation from the death camps be inflicting atrocities on Palestinians in the new State of Israel and continue to do so on a daily basis in the West Bank and Gaza."

The comments attracted criticism on social media after they were picked up by The Commentator news website.

A Liberal Democrat spokesman said disciplinary action against Mr Ward is an internal party matter.

He added: "This is a matter we take extremely seriously. The Liberal Democrats deeply regret and condemn the statement issued by David Ward and his use of language which is unacceptable."

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said the comments were "sickening and unacceptable".

“I am deeply saddened that at this sombre time, when we remember those who were murdered by the Nazis, Mr Ward has...abused the memory of the Holocaust causing deep pain and offence," she said.

Baroness Tonge quit as a Liberal peer in the House of Lords in 2010 after refusing to apologise for claiming that Israel would not "last forever".